Friday, December 10, 2010

If life were a cartoon show, I'd be laughing my ass off. The clever plot of the wily coyote to capture the dastardly road runner backfired for the nth time. This is how I tend to look at the plot of the present administration to push it's Truth Commission geared towards Penoy's imagined arch-nemesis, Gloria Arroyo. Sadly, life isn't a cartoon, and the infantile efforts of Penoy and his legal team to push the Truth Commission down Juan dela Cruz's throat isn't funny anymore.

Penoy is living the life of her mother all over again, copying everything she has done -- so logically, if Cory had Marcos, Penoy must have a Gloria. In a press conference the other night, i heard the Yellow Leader say in essence that the Truth Commission was meant to put some sort of closure on a "dark chapter" of our history (naks! feeling superhero si gago!) And guess what? I'm not the only one who thinks the same thing (well, not so much the gago part). Bobby Tiglao wrote the same thing in his column in the Inquirer yesterday! Yan ang tunay na Hindi ka nagiisa.

Psycho?

Penoy's actions remind me of the movie Psycho (with a pinoy touch), with Penoy playing Norman Bates. I could actually picture Penoy sitting in the presidential chair, wearing a curly wig and yellow duster, looking out the window of Malacanang. I can see him obsessing over La Gloria, while his alter-ego (the mother) tells him he must destroy the woman. The pinoy touch is that every plot he hatches backfires...

Curses, Foiled Again!

The Palace's recent setback, the EO No. 1 fiasco, has shown Penoy spiraling on the very brink of insanity when he implied that his allies will begin impeachment proceedings versus the current Chief Justice. One can simply surmise that this is because the First Brat did not get his way again. Good for us that none of his allies are biting (at least for now).

Even the Senate is playing it cool and not jumping into the issue like rabid attacks dogs of their master -- and with good reason. They know what would happen if all branches of government start warring with each other. I guess this is why many were surprised when Penoy went on the offensive again, hurling accusations and insinuations against the High Court. My God, is he that stupid to realize that he setting his yellow zombies up for a people power vs. the SC?

King of Lala Land

Penoy is living in a Quixotic delusion, a dream world of sorts. He thinks that he is a revolutionary president, having recently just toppled the past administration. He thinks that he is king of the Filipinos, and that his word is law. He thinks that Executive Orders are actually Royal declarations, where the king's orders must be carried out forcefully and without delay. He lives in a fantasy where he is adored by each and every one of his constituents, and that those who dare go against him are agents of evil. Someone really has to douse him with cold water and wake him from this dream.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

I was shocked to read this morning in gmanews.tv that the Palace wants the Glorietta 2 incident re-investigated (by the Truth Commission, no less). The news item said that the Palace hinted that the investigation was "whitewashed". Apparently, the Palace stooges are experts in whitewashing investigation results.

Why, oh why, would the GMA administration cover-up the truth if it indeed was a bomb that caused the explosion? Wouldn't it be favorable to the then Gloria administration to claim it was a bomb rather than a gas leak? It could have been a good reason for her administration to crack down on her critics, but they did not do that.

But I think I know the reason behind this so-called "re-investigation". The Ayalas, who own Glorietta 2, are liable and subject to lawsuits for the explosion if it had been a gas leak, and they wouldn't want that to happen. Hey! They supported Penoy's campaign, so why can't they just have it re-investigated by their "boy" Penoy and have the new results "tweaked" to show that it was really a bomb and not a gas leak? I mean, the Palace go-boys have proven their skill in tweaking investigation reports.

I see no logic in the need for the past administration to cover up what happened in Glorietta 2... But hey, it's Penoy's Truth Commission, and they've been given a blank check.

Monday, October 11, 2010

For the life of me, i cannot understand why Usec. Rico Puno, of all people, would be spared from any responsibility for the botched hostage rescue attempt last August 23 which killed 8 Hong Kong nationals. Penoy himself made it clear that he assigned Puno to the DILG specifically to handle the Philippine National Police. What does Puno have on Penoy to make the President bow to this low-life scum?

But hey, it's Penoy's funeral. Somehow, former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzales' statement that Penoy is on a self-destruct mode seems to hold water. Even some of my firends who are staunch supporters of Penoy are starting to question his decision to spare his BFF from prosecution, despite the result of the IIRC investigation.

Why in hell did Penoy even create the IIRC when he knew from the start that he will have the last say on the matter? He only made a fool of Laila De Lima who performed an exemplary job, only to be sidelined in the end.

What we are seeing from the Palkace is a clear sign of a whitewash. The Palace has no intention of finding out the truth but is more itnerested in saving the Presidential friends from taking responsibility.

Friday, October 01, 2010

The catholic hierarchy today said that Celdran was jailed not because he exercised his right to free speech but because he "committed a sin against the church". First off, in my humble opinion, having such a law as Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code is in itself a violation of one's basic human rights.

Art. 133. Offending the religious feelings. — The penalty of arresto mayor in its maximum period to prision correccional in its minimum period shall be imposed upon anyone who, in a place devoted to religious worship or during the celebration of any religious ceremony shall perform acts notoriously offensive to the feelings of the faithful.source: www.chanrobles.com

In a nutshell, Article 133 means that the Church or any religious organization can have you imprisoned if they feel you performed an act offensive to the "faithful", but not vice versa.

In the United Staes Bill of Rights, it says:

Amendment I-- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Freedom of Expression must include being able to express one's feelings inside the church. If the church pulpit can be used to demonize, accuse without evidence and lambast the government (like what they did during GMA's administration), then i say with conviction that it is also the right of every catholic to speak out against its church and its hierarchy INSIDE that church.

Remember history, my friends. Many of these old churches, including the Manila Cathedral, were built by our fellow Filipinos, some working for free in exchange for what the Frailes call "salvation". It is the people, the Filipino people under the oppressive Spanish regime who built these churches, not the bishops, not the priests and not the Pope. It is our Church, and if priests can call a person evil using the pulpit, then we, the people, can certainly use this church built by our forefathers' blood, sweat and tears to call the church hierarchy whatever we want.

What is good for the gander should be good for the goose. The church cannot have double-standards and say "we can speak against anyone inside the church but the people cannot". This goes against the teachings of Christ where He is the Head and we, the people, The church, is the body. Christ never mentioned anything about Popes, Bishops, Cardinals and excommunication.

Then, of course, there is that argument made by Carlos Celdran which I agree with -- the Church cannot, according to our Constitution, involve itself in matters of State, to wit:

ARTICLE II

DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES

Section 6. The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

I commend Carlos Celdran for having the balls to speak out against the Catholic Church, a taboo though it may be to some, but judging from the reactions of many people in the world wide web, I'm sure many share Carlos' sentiments about the separation of Church and State.

Dressed as Jose Rizal, Manila's famous tour guide Carlos Celdran walked into the Manila Cathedral, went to the altar, raised a sign that says DAMASO (in reference to Jose Rizal's antagonist in Noli me Tangere) and shouted "Stop meddling in politics!". Now that's what I call guts. For all the hot air and bluster I've been hearing from the Palace about supporting the Reproductive Health Bill, what Celdran did was a breath of fresh air. Celdran was later arrested and charged with violation of Article 133 of the Revised Penal Code.

What the priests and bishops failed to realize that they played right into Celdran's hands. This is exactly why he was garbed as Jose Rizal. What the church demonstrated when they had Celdran arrested was that they were in fact the modern day Damasos ordering the arrest of a modern day Rizal and putting him behind bars. But what Celdran did was merely an exercise in freedom of expression, something the church cannot fully understand since it is anchored in dogma written in the middle ages.

If the church continues with its threats against the government's plan to push for Reproductive Health, then we are seeing the end of days of the church's holier-than-thou meddling in politics and I would not be the least bit surprised if activists replicate this action by Celdran. Let's see if the church can take a dose of civil disobedience.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

As the flood waters rose steadily on that fateful morning of September 26, 2009, my sister and i decided to go to the Zen Center (zendo) where i work (which was three houses away). After securing our stuff and shutting off our main switch, we locked our house and went to the zendo. There, we were met by the center's treasurer, Juju Tan, who was in the zendo moving the important items of the zendo to the second floor. Juju then waded through chest high waters to meet his driver near the gate of Provident.

My sister and i made ourselves at home on the zendo's 2nd floor, where the dormitory is situated. We were later joined by the de Guzmn and Pineda families who live next door to the zendo. Luckily for us, the de Guzmans had a ladder and a big roll of insulation foam, while the Pinedas brought their lunch with them.

By noon, we were on the roof, waiting to be rescued. An hour later we were joined by Dominic and his wife, along with Nero, their german shepherd. The men in our group spent the night taking turns holding up our makeshift tent which kept the women and children dry. Early next morning, Atty. de Guzman arrived with a rubber dinghy which rescued our neighbors. My sister and i chose to stay behind. We waited for the water to recede up to the waist, then waded the flood waters to reach the gate of Provident Village.

One year after Ondoy, i still live in Provident Village, quite aware that the drainage systems have not been thoroughly dredged and cleaned, and knowing full well that the Marikina River has become shallow. Armed with this "knowledge", i made my own version of a grab bag. My friend gave me a dry bag which i can use to store a small AM Radio, flashlight, waterproof matches, a couple of shirts, some cigarettes, easy-to-open canned goods and a whistle.

One year after Ondoy, i still keep hearing government officials claim they are ready for another Ondoy. But really, who can ever be ready for another Ondoy? Honestly, i'm not putting much faith in local government to resuce me from another disaster. The Zendo today is being renovated, and an escape hatch to the roof is being added to ensure a quick exit in case of another flood.

One year after Ondoy, our neighbors are still here, a little wary but still suriving. I am still in awe that despite the disaster, we managed to stay calm and composed during the entire ordeal.

One year after Ondoy, i am still in awe of the inviolability of the human spirit.

Lito Banayo has recently been seen on TV and heard on radio saying that there is a looming rice shortage if Malacanang fails to release the agency's P6 billion budget. I find this statement by

Banayo funny since it was he who told Penoy that there was an "over importation of rice". The claim was so "shocking" that it even landed in Penoy's first State of the Nation address, meant to embarrass the previous administration of PGMA.

Banayo even went as far as to call for an investigation of the previous administration to demonstrate the veracity of his claim. His claim got so much media mileage, with him claiming that the agency even had to stop the arrival of rice shipments from abroad due to "over supply". He even claimed, in an article on CBS Network's website, that we were "swimming in rice".

And because of this pompous claim, Malacanang decided not to release the P6 billion budget alloted for the agency, something which i believe Banayo never expected to happen.

Now Banayo is once again doing media rounds, but claiming that we might come to a rice shortage due to the non-release of his agency's budget. From swimming in rice, Banayo now claims that the cupboard is bare.

And here you can probably guess why he made a u-turn from his earlier claims: P6 billion is too big a money to pass up. Even a small percentage could make Banayo's Christmas merry indeed.

In the end, Banayo's claims really were about "the money" and not about rice.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Penoy and his administration is insecure, this much i can say with certainty. His and his cohorts' need to constantly compare their actions, spendings and the like with that of the previous administration of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Ph.D. seems so jejune that it makes them look like school boys who constantly need to assure themselves that they have the biggest penis in school to the point of constantly going to the bathroom and checking on their classmates' dongs just to convince themselves of their "greatness".

Let's take a look at how the (mis)communications group of Malacanang play up this "My penis is bigger than yours" bit: In his US trip, Penoy and the boys continually emphasize the "frugality" of Penoy's US trip, pointing out that there will be no repeat of the Le Cirque Restaurant incident that became an issue for the GMA administration. The Malcanang dog-waggers played up Penoy's eating at In-and-Out Burgers and their use of a commercial flight.

While it is commendable to be frugal at a time when most filipinos are hard strapped for cash, one must use the Roatary Club's Four Way Test to see if what we are hearing from Malacanang is accurate.

IS IT THE TRUTH?

is the government really spending only P25 million pesos? Does the P25M include the pay for the PR firm they hired to "promote" Penoy's visit? If it is the truth, why can't Carandang and his pals come up with the exact cost of the PR firm deal? Coming from the media, Carandang must have known that once you admit that you hired a PR Firm to promote your boss' trip, the next question your former colleagues in media would ask is "How much did it cost?" If it is true that this administration is for truth and transparency, Carandang and his pals should have had that data ready and at hand during his admission.

IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED?

Is it fair for Malacanang to constantly compare itself to the previous administration? Is it fair to the Filipino people to be kept in the dark as to the exact and actual cost of Penoy's trip? Is it fair for Pinoy taxpayers to be misled by sweeping statements like "The PR Firm deal is much cheaper, even by Philippine standards"? Is it fair for former President Arroyo who has yet to be charged for alleged crimes against the people (In any civil society, one cannot be presumed guilty without the benefit of a fair and just trial)? The answer to these questions is a resounding No.

WILL IT BUILD GOODWILL AND BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

First off, constantly comparing Penoy's administration to that of Gloria Arroyo isn't going to build goodwill. In fact, it is causing much division in our society, and we really need division like a hole in the head. Secondly, you don't need a PR Group to build goodwill and better friendships among your fellow world leaders. Goodwill and better friendships come from being a true statesman, with or without the need for a promotional gimmick. It is all about political will, charisma and true leadership qualities. You only need a PR firm if you lack these 3 qualifications. Enough said.

WILL IT BE BENEFICIAL TO ALL CONCERNED?

Will hiring a PR firm be beneficial to us filipinos? Not to all. But it will certainly be beneficial to Penoy, who has lost much face because of the August 23 hostage incident, having been played out on international news networks like CNN (courtesy of Penoy's ally ABiaS-CBN).

Is it worth spending P44 million for? Maybe not. In his first SONA, Penoy practically said we had no money left, and here they are trying to appear frugal and yet hiding the fact that we hired a PR firm to drum up the Penoy's image. Mind you, this isn't about promoting the Philippines' image, as much as the (mis)communications group would like to claim that it is. It is, to be candid, to promote Penoy whose bumblings in his first 100 days make him look like, in the words of Senator Joker Arroyo, "a student council president" in the eyes of many world leaders.

Because of his massive insecurity and his and his administration's failure to pass the four-way test, Penoy needs to go full blast to convince the Filipino people that he really is qualified to be president of this nation. No amount of PR will cover up his incompetence. More to the point, if he keeps up with his constant comparison of the past administration, the people may end up thinking the past administration is actually better than his. But that's just my opinion.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Puno is clinging to power like the bayawak that he is (i would have said tarsier but tarsiers are cute, cuddly and lovable). He seems to be working under the impression that the Filipino people would forgive him if he announced that he will submit a courtesy resignation the moment Penoy arrives from the US.

What he doesn't seem to understand is that a courtesy resignation is not enough. What he should tender is an irrevocable resignation. Delicadeza demands it. He, however, seems to be ignorant of the word and continues to believe that he is "untouchable", what with Tony Boy himself telling Bishop Cruz to take it easy on Puno.

A piece of unsolicited advice, Usec. Puno: Cut and cut clean. Show a little honor, even if it's just for show. We know it's difficult for you to show honor when there isn't an iota of it in your body.

Penoy has been busy the past few weeks comparing the budget for his US Trip with that of his predecessor GMA. His (mis)communications group said that Penoy's trip would only cost about P25 million, staying at a Sofitel Hotel and eating at a Jollibee in Queens.

What he and his cohorts in Malacanang failed to say was that Penoy's trip would also entail hiring a US-based PR firm which some say would cost about P45 million. Carandang quickly denied that the PR Firm would pe paid that much money, but refused to say how much the Philippines is actually paying for it. So much for transparency.

What i think is likely to happen is that the real cost of the PR Firm will not be revelaed to the public and that some hocus-PCOS will take place to make it appear that the PR Firm was "a too good a deal to pass".

What is as clear as day is the fact that Penoy's trip will cost a whole lot more than just the P25 million "propaganda amount" that they have been trying to sell the public. Tough noogies, Ricky. No one seems to be buying it.

At the end of the day, Penoy and his (mis)communications group should learn to count because even the lowly taxi driver I talked to this afternoon doesn't believe that Penoy's US trip would cost only P25 million INCLUDING the PR firm job.

Friday, September 17, 2010

I recently saw in the comments section of my blog dated 2009 that several individuals were victimized by Homesonic. If you are a victim of Homesonic or Arysta, please email me or write your complaint on the comment box below.

Let me share with you two incidents:

Anonymous said...

Homesonic did the same thing to me, now they already have 54,900 pesos from my credit card.im so sad to find out that Homesonic is a Scam, I hope somebody can help me regarding this.

FOOH___22------} last 23rd of July my mom and i went to TUTUBAN CENTER MALL 2, den suddenly two fucking staff (CARMIE CAALAM) approached us telling that we have a free bag coz its their co. anniv....we refused to accept that fucking free bag, unfortunately there was no way out from that place coz the escalator wasnt working dat tym...we didnt have any choice but to look for the other way ...so badtrip!!!! coz the other escalator was near on their place (HOMESONIC)...they were very accomodating even if my face wasnt dat ryt....they used that situation telling us " don din naman kau dadaan mam kc sira yang escalator kya daanan nio nlang mam libre nman po yan dhil anniv po namen...) since taung pilipino has dis attitude na "sige n nga, and2 n rin lng naman.." kya aun, we entered the HELL........den they started to massage my mom and i wid their chair massager and beauty matte massager, that's BULLSHIT!!!...hahha! i was wondering dat tym...so d scam issue of kyowa entered my mind...so i asked them what was that all about.......and the DEMON CARMIE answered "this is to advertise our products!!!!..while we are waiting for the fucking bag!then suddenly the pregnant women entered and let me sign the paper,,,den i started giving my false information...my god, they hav no right to know how much savings i have....CRaZy deMons!!! this pathetic staff(pregnant women)started their strategy..telling us that we have won 10 umbrellas!!! so wat?!!!hahah...and den suddenly after confirmation from their so called head office they said that although we didnt qualify to that fucking thing.. we still have the privilege to pick one of their certicate.....den sbi pa ng isang staff pag blue daw ang nabunot q try again.......den i picked one envelope, and its blue!! but hnd try again ang nkasulat...discounted 2000 ang nakaindicate...and at the back of that voucher , it is indicated that we have a free energy cooker and the x in game chair...i asked pano namn nangyari un!!! Sb ng mga kumag ang swerte q daw dhil aq daw ung 5 n naqualify pra d2...then i keep on asking na pano nangyari until they showed us some more free fucking appliances that we'v qualified to get habang nagssigawan cla ng mga staff at masayang masayang n pinagagagawa nila.....sabay at the end of their makukuha q lng un free if i avail one of their products...sbi q ala aqng pera pra mag avail..but then they told me na if papipiliin anong product daw ung pipiliin namin..and then i said ung magagamit s business ung BIO ENERGY WATER SYSTEM...and then this FUCKING CARMIE persuaded us to withdraw kc magagamit nman daw namin un s business...she computed how much the profits i can get if i avail the BIO ENERGY WATER SYSTEM...then after the long conversation 5x qng sinabi na cancelled nlang...okei lng n di mauwi yan mga free n yan...mkikita mo tuloi s mga muka nila na nawalan ng energy!!!!hahahha....but the problem is my mom really wants the energy cooker kya nkita 2loi ung interest nia...sb q babalik kme tom coz i really want to do research first, pero ang dinahilan q kelangan q muna makausap ung husband q...den carmie told me na d daw possible un,,valid until dat day lng daw,, and den sb eh d cancelled m na....den sb if u want u can give 5000 for reservation...then i asked her is dat refundable sb nia off setted to items...so tumagal nnman ang discussion dahil sb q bket ganon...but then i cash out 5000 due to my mom's interest to get the energy cooker and the bio energy water system...When i went home, i did a research and found out that HOMESONIC is a SCAM!!!!!! i called the DTI, telling that there are cases filed against them,, then i called SEC, telling that HOMESONIC doesnt appear on their database and HOMESONIC doesnt have a licencse at all...My god!!! and after a day, i went back to TUTUBAN to get my money back....but they refused to give it...nkakatawa..ung isang staff, pinakilala sken ung supervisor nila,,,and den sb q last tym manager ang pakilala sken s taong yan ngaun supervisor nlang...gRabe!!! den i talked to thje so called manager/supervisor....trying to tell him to please coordinate it to their head office..and then d p xa nkikipagcoordinate may response n agad xa..patawa tlg!!!! dameng excuses!!! sb q asan ang head office nila, pupuntahan q...tapos hnd maisulat ng manager kung wat specific address...den suddenly ung isang staff lumabas form the rum giving the business card...grabe...ung business card ang nakalagay customer service,,sb q asan ang head office d2?? un daw ang head office nila.....at ittransfer din nman daw aq s knila khit pumunta daw aq don....anong klaseng head office un....hahah..at lahat nman daw ng company may negative feedbacks....nandamay p! kapal ng muka!!! hnd cla kinaya ng nerves q kya i did a scandal..i even tried to talk to one of their customer giving the handouts i have...and nagsisigaw aq s loob at labas ng office nila informing people that HOMESONIC is scam!!!!!!!!!!.....now, i want to file a complaint against them,,, that is only a small amount pero wat i want to is give that fucking company together with its demon staff a lesson.....

It seems that the President of our country is suffering from what journalists call "Footh-in-Mouth Disease". Issue after issue, Penoy and his miscommunications people manage to find their feet in their mouth the minute they open their mouths to defend themselves. I remember reading in an online news site that Penoy said during a wake that in two years time, people will look back on (the hostage incident) and just laugh. Oooops. Did he just say that out loud?

Then there's the comedy duo of Carandang and Coloma (sounds like a comedy act to me). Their statements regarding the missed phone call of HK Chief Executive Donald Tsang during "The Crisis" were too way off the mark that I am tempted to write a new book about them: Carandang is from Mars, Coloma is from Uranus.

Now comes the Juetengate issue being hurled against the president's top honchos. Instead of saying that he believes in the trustworthiness and honesty of his men, Penoy starts off his defense by saying that P2 million was "too cheap" to be true, a statement which makes some wonder if Penoy knows the going rate of jueteng payolas. Then his follow through about jueteng not being a priority of his government just shoved his foot deep into his throat. I wouldn't be surprised if, by this time tomorrow, the trio would have swallowed their feet with all their bumblings.

Yessiree, at every turn, issue after issue, the comedy trio of Penoy, Coloma and Carandang manage to put themselves into compromising positions, yet they still hang on to Penoy like the cute little tarsiers that they are. Truth be told, Penoy and his men don't need detractors -- they can do that all on their own.

The recent appointment of PNP Dir. General Raul Bacalzo as PNP Chief replacing Jesus Versoza, has been met with criticism from some junior officers of the National Police. Many claim that the new PNP Chief is involved in Jueteng and receives, along with some Malacanang official/s, payola in exchange for protection from jueteng. Mind you, these are all allegations, but persistent ones, nonetheless.

Then comes Usec. Puno of the DILG claiming he was offered by Jueteng Lords P2 million a month (an amount Penoy said was "cheap", as if he knows very well the going rate for jueteng payolas. hmmmm). Puno claims he declined the offer, but refuses to identify these people who offered him money. He claims no law was broken, although i doubt if attempting to bribe a government official isn't a crime in itself. These two officials of the Penoy administration both have a lot to explain since the rumors, stories and whispers involving them in jueteng are growing loudereach day.

Could it be that these two are not in position by accident? Could it be that Bacalzo and Puno were put there through the insistence of the powerful bulong brigade? And if the powerful bulong birgade pushed Penoy to appoint Bacalzo and Puno to the 2 top posts that are responsible for eradicating jueteng, then it logically follows that some members of the bulong brigade might have vested interests in jueteng and would want the police and the DILG to be "in good hands".

Then comes the question everyone wants to ask: Could Penoy have received payola during his legislative term of office, and could he have received campaign contributions from Jueteng Lords? Is this the reason he was hesitant to say who his contributors were? Is this the real reason why Penoy is trying his best to ease out Sec. Robredo (a staunch anti-jueteng advocate) without making it look like a political maneuver?

Let's face it. Penoy's announcement that jueteng is not in his list of priorities, plus the fact that he refuses to investigate allegations by retired Bishop Cruz that his top ranking officials are involved in jueteng or are receiving jueteng payolas, raises many eyebrows.

No matter which way you look at it, the situation is highly suspect, and the president has a lot to explain with regards to his seeming refusal to investigate his own men. With his actions, many cannot be faulted into thinking that the jueteng payola has reached the top of the political heap.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Having read and re-read all the reports coming out from last Monday's botched rescue attempt of Hong Kong tourists held hostage by a disgruntled police officer, one question pops to mind: Where was our president and what has he been doing throughout the whole ordeal?

A presidential spokesperson said that the president was monitoring the situation but left it to "concerned police authorities the handling of the matter."

At a time like this, especially when foreign nationals are involved, the president should, and must be visible. The hostage taker's demands were simple. The president could have gone on live TV to appeal to the gunman's sense of justice. He could have said he would personally guarantee to review his case, or even promise to reinstate him if only to appease the man. But no. He was out of the public eye, hiding inside the Palace rather than taking control of the situation -- something which his predecessor Gloria Arroyo would have done.

But no, Noynoy refuses to be compared to his predecessor and even went as far as to say that he was not going to divulge where he was during the entire ordeal. So much for his vow of transparency. At a time when the nation looked for leadership, there was none. This was evident in how the police handled the situation. It was as if no leadership existed and each police unit went their own way in trying to put an end to the situation. BBC even came up with their observation regarding our police's actions.

President Aquino must be held responsible for this failure, under the principle of command responsibility. His words to General Angue came to mind as i was writing this blog: "I am your Commander-in-Chief". This was no longer a local issue to be handled by local police. This was an international incident involving foreign nationals, and it was the job of the president not only to inform the government of the hostages of the situation but to give his personal assurance to the governments concerned that everything is being done for the safe release of their nationals. Sadly, this was not the case with our president. Donald Tsang, Hong Kong's chief executive, said in a statement that he kept calling President Aquino but the president was unavailable. It was his responsibility as Commander-in-Chief to be on top of the situation -- not just leaving everything to the police. Look where that got us.

He cannot hide from his responsibility, and he cannot point the finger at others for the failure of the police to rescue the hostages. He should have been on top of the situation, he should have ordered a media blackout (another thing his predecessor did during the height of the Manila Penn Siege) and he should have done everything in his power to make sure the hostages were released safe and sound.

This was his first major test as a leader, and he failed badly. Not only the Philippines witnessed this epic failure but also the rest of the world. To make matters worse, he did arrive much, much later at the scene, even captured on film smiling for the cameras.

Not even his explanations the next day as to what he did during the hostage drama could wash away the stink his non-appearance left in the wake of the previous night's events.

In a country where we look up to our leaders to be on top of every situation, it appears that "The President you dialed cannot be reached".

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Maybe i've just been watching too many action movies, or maybe common sense just kicked in on my part --- whatever the reason, it was obvious, watching from local news coverage of the hostage drama at the Quirino Grandstand, that something was wrong with what the police did in trying to recuse the hostages inside the bus that was hijacked by Police Inspector Rolando Mendoza.

As far as i know, once negotiations break down, the use of rapid, deadly force is essential. What happened in Manila yesterday was the exact opposite. The police were slow, hesitant and indecisive. Their technique of trying to break the bus door using a mallet failed big time, and so with heir tactic of trying to pull the door away using a police car and a rope. These moves gave the hostage taker not just warning but time to set up a defensive position.

I remember a hostage drama in France a couple of years back. The rapid response force covered all sides of the vehicle and rushed in as the flash bangs went off. This took less than a minute. The one in the grandstand took about 30 minutes.

I also heard on the news last night that the reason the police decided to assault the vehicle was because of the statement of the driver who escaped from the bus that the hostages were dead. According to Judge Jimmy Santiago, former head of the SWAT team of MPD, this was erroneous since the report was unconfirmed. Santiago said that assaulting the bus without knowledge of the situation inside the bus was dangerous.

It was also reported last night that the arrest of the brother of the hostage taker on live television further angered him, prompting him to become violent. The police should not have done the arrest live on television, knowing that the hostage taker was monitoring the news inside the bus.

With this tragedy, the police should seriously re-think their rapid response tactics to ensure that such a tragedy will not happen again.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

A big disappointment -- that's what I call the inauguration of the 15th President of the Yellow Brigade. The backdrop was tacky, to say the least, and their desire to make the event simple but elegant in the Obama Inauguration style ultimately ended up as a cross between Madam Auring's psychic shop and a Goldilocks display cabinet.

I heard Mike Enriquez this morning talking about how the inaugural event was proceeding like clockwork. Apparently the organziers' watches were 30 minutes advanced, leaving the diplomatic corps and the rest of the country unsure of what to do. To make up for the huge time gap, singer Noel Cabangon sang impromptu, which didn't really make things classier for the event.

What a rip off for those who got tickets, I tell you. It was as if the inauguration was a dry run for this Sunday's edition of Party Pilipinas. It was funny, in a way, because it could have been given a classy undertone had the inaugural people stuck with just the Philharmonic Orchestra as musical backdrop for the event. Instead, what we saw was the unfortunate demise of the people's respect for APO Hiking Society as a singing group, the mediocre performance of our "most talented artists", and the annoying way we keep crowding and hogging the stage.

Even his inaugural speech was a big disappointment. It was, to say the least, an effort to sound presidential without much brain activity going into the speech writing, which leads me to believe it was the president himself who wrote it. Come on, I could have written a better speech than that! My Educational Reform Speech for Erap was better than that, for crying out loud! And what was that? He actually showed the world (on live TV no less) what a big vindictive ass he is by announcing on his inauguration the creation of a truth commission to investigate his predecessor. What he could have at least done is call a press conference tomorrow to announce that his first executive order was the creation of a truth commission. That would have been presidential. Oh, and the environmentalists aren't happy with his speech, either. Apparently, Noy forgot about the environment in his list of priorities.

Now everyone knows the deal they got when they voted for Penoy, and they have no one to blame but themselves. Already, Penoy is making excuses by blaming the previous administration for everything, and laying the foundation for his failure to keep his campaign promises.

And so, at the end of the day, the 'big moment', that earth-shattering speech everyone was waiting for didn't materialize. the inauguration, which was dubbed the People's Inauguration, was a big disappointment. Many hopes pinned on this man are beginning to fade, and this is just day one of his term as president. The inauguration was an Epic Fail.

Like those never-ending stories of mananaggals in Tondo come election time, the news of Kris and James' breakup appeared again in the different tabloids and even in some major dailies. the news articles more often than not include a video-grab of a teary-eyed Kris in an interview in her show "The Buzz".

What i found amusing was this: In her statement on her Sunday Gossip show, she said "Kung anuman ang dahilan why this marriage, on my part, I'm saying, is over, the only person I will owe an explanation to, and the only person who can demand from me na bakit kayo naghiwalay, is my son". It's funny because if she owes and explanation to no one except her son, why did she even bother coming out at all about their breakup on National TV? But like my good friend said, that's Kris. Even when she wants to be real quiet about something, she still manages to blab about it, one way or another.

Then, she further added: "The worst thing I can do for Baby James is, when he's 7 or 8 years old, ang mahanap niya sa YouTube yung explanation kung bakit naghiwalay ang nanay at tatay niya. He deserves much more than that. He deserves to hear it only from me and only from James. Because in any separation, there are two sides to the story. And we owe it to him, James will owe it to him, that I will owe it to him to explain to him."

I think what Baby James would say when he's 7 or 8 years old is this: "Mommy, why did you have to announce to the world you are breaking up with Daddy?"But again, my friend would justify it with two simple words-- that's Kris.

According to an article written by Ricky Lo dated June 28, he wrote: “They always clash because of Kris’ tendency to control James,” said somebody privy to the couple’s life. “Their differences are irreconcilable. Every time they fought, Kris would threaten to separate from James, saying, ‘Ayoko na talaga; sawa na ako. Hiwalay na tayo!’ This time around, James retaliated by saying, ‘Hiwalay kung hiwalay!’ I think they have reached a point of no return, no reconciliation.”

If this is indeed the case, then I think it is only right for James to call it quits. I can just imagine what life must have been like for James, living under the shadow of Kris and her family, and the eternal nagging that might (or might not) have happened on a daily basis.

To Kris, I only have this to say: Whatever misery you are in right now, you deserve every drop of it. if what i have been observing on TV reflects your true persona, then it is not surprising that your relationships with men always end up this way. There is a lot of self-realization you need to do, and you must acknowledge your faults (not just by saying them on TV but actually trying your best to change them) if you do not want to end up a bitter person.

And to James, i only have three words for you: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!

Friday, June 25, 2010

While the World Cup is being held in South Africa, we in the Philippines are hosting the 2nd Aquino Ass-Kissing World Cup (The first AAK World Cup was held in 1986 and was then called the Cory Rump-Kiss Cup).

Vying for first place is Team Manila led by Mayor Fred Lim who scored a whopping 50 points with his "Outstanding Manileno" Maneuver. Yes, sports fans, Mayor Lim gave Noy Aquino, a known resident of Times Street, West Triangle, Quezon City, an award for Outstanding Manileno! What nerves of steel! Beat that, ABiaS-CBN!

But wait! Team ABiaS-CBN (also known as Team Dos) isn't about to let Team Manila go for gold. Team Dos is going for the "All Aquino, All the Time" News Program ploy! Wow! What a big kiss-in-the-ass performance, ladies and gentlemen! this earned Team Dos an additional 45 points!

Team Kamag-Anak Inc. simply won't be outdone and has employed the "backstabbers" move. Team Captain Peping is leading the charge with his patented "don't listen to them... listen to Me" stance doubled with the "blood is thicker than water" ploy. Man, that chin has got to be aerodynamic! We are not certain how effective his ploy will be versus Team Bulong Brigade though, who has employed the Magsulsol sa Pangulo technique to counter Team Kamag-anak Inc.'s advances!

Hold on, folks! it seems another team is vying for the AAK Cup, and this team's ploy may just land them first place! Team Penk led by their team Captain Penk Chink has let lose their secret weapon-- The "Inaugural Cake" Move which is supposed to be a Wolrd Cup first! Wow!! And wait! They are also employing the "It's Absolutely Free" coupled with the "It's Banana Walnut Flavor" maneuver. What a move! It seems for now that Team Penk has the nod of referees Ballsy, Pinky, Viel and Kris!

It's going to be a hot fight for Aquino Ass-Kissing World Cup, folks! Who will win the World Cup this year? We will know on June 30! Abangan!

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Everywhere we go nowadays, we see proof of PGMA's legacy to the Filipino people. NLEX, SLEX, SCTEX are only some of the infrastructures people today enjoy as part of the Arroyo administration's programs. The Strong Republic Nautical Highway or Ro-Ro now connects the entire archipelago via roll-on, roll-off ports. The long mothballed NAIA 3 terminal was opened during her term and the linking of SLEX and NLEX is now near completion.

The linking of the LRT and MRT lines, the rehabilitation of the PNR and the creation of the NorthRail lines from Caloocan to Subic, the modern interchanges along SLEX and the Batangas Star Expressway are also clear evidence of the Arroyo Administration's legacy of development.

Economic programs under her administration managed to spare the nation from effects of the global financial crunch, a fact not many seem to realize. Also under her term, we came to participate in the first ever automated elections. Despite many rumors that she will hold on to her position beyond 2010, we see a peaceful transition of power from the Arroyo administration to the incoming Aquino administration.

It is a fact that the incoming president will reap much of what the Arroyo government has sown, and many may criticize her for many things, but these tangible proofs of her administration will remain with us for many decades to come.

On 23 June 2010, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, 14th President of the Republic of the Philippines, delivered her farewell speech -- her valedictory, if you will. Here is the transcript in full.

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My fellow Filipinos,

We come together tonight as we approach a hallmark of democracy for our great nation – the smooth transition of power to a new leader.

We have just come through a historic election. It was open and it was modern.

As a result, we were able to declare winners in hours and days rather than weeks and months. The face of politics in our nation has changed forever.

Tonight, I once again congratulate president-elect Aquino and vice president-elect Binay.

Nine years ago, I came to the presidency at a time of great turmoil in our nation. I accepted the challenge of the office when it was thrust upon me.

At that time, our country was reeling from political intrigue and a distressed economy.

We set to work to reform our economy and invest in our people. Along the way, we had to make unpopular choices such as raising taxes but we did so against the odds for a very simple reason: we had to have new money for more and better healthcare, education, and job creation.

We needed new and better roads, bridges, ports and a technology backbone to attract new businesses and investors to create new jobs.

Through hard work, determination and a clear plan of action, we helped achieve many of these objectives.

As a result, we have had 37 quarters of uninterrupted economic growth even against the headwinds of a major global recession.

Look around you in our cities as you drive by the office towers that have changed the skyline.

Look around you in our provinces as you drive along the roads, bridges and Ro-Ro ports where we have made massive investments.

This is the face of change.

Eighty-five percent of our people now have access to Philhealth insurance, over a hundred thousand classrooms have been built and nine-million jobs have been created.

We developed the call-center industry almost from scratch. Today there are 500,000 call-center and BPO jobs when only 5,000 existed when I took office.

Yet, these accomplishments are merely part of the continuum of history.

The gains I made were built on the efforts of previous leaders. Each successive government must build on the successes and progress of the previous one.

Advance the programs that work and leave behind those that don’t.

I feel confident that we are leaving this nation much stronger than I came to office but I leave that for history to judge.

Tonight, I call on everyone to unite behind our new leaders. I am optimistic and I am hopeful about our future yet until every Filipino child is born to a family free of poverty, we cannot rest.

We must always set our sights on the future and keep an eye on improving our economy, investing in people and building bridges, not just bridges of iron and steel but bridges between people, generations and governments.

The bridges we must build to the future rest on the hard work, grace and compassion of our people.

The people of our nation are our greatest asset.

You are the backbone that drives our nation forward everyday.

From the fisherman to the farmer, to the taxi driver and the teacher, we are a nation of industrious, hardworking people.

I thank each and everyone for your contribution to help the Philippines achieve our potential.

This time next week I will be moving into new phase of life leading a quieter public role.

We’re all on a journey together. As our nation moves forward let us all join hands in unity and walk confidently towards a better tomorrow.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for giving me the honor and privilege of serving you.

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

As recently as January 2010, many critics of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have been saying that she will not step down from the presidency. Well, she is, and here's her farewell message. Eat your heart out, Teddy Casiño.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

It appears that the 40% of the Filipino people who voted for Penoy are not just getting 1, but 5 presidents! Yes, indeed, folks. What a deal they are getting. In an interview with Ted Failon on June 19, Ballsy admitted that Noynoy might have a difficult time deciding on important matters so Ballsy said she will be watching him like a hawk and, if he still cannot make up his mind, would give him a "final push" into making the "right" decision. And if i guess right, the other 3 sisters will be doing that, too.

Yessiree, ladies and gentlemen. You have elected to the highest office in the land one Penoy and 4 sisters. What a Deal! Kris, from what we have been reading in the papers recently, might be the one tasked to select and lobby for the Senate leadership while sister Ballsy might be in-charge of policy and decision-making, if i am reading the Failon interview correctly. That leaves Ate Viel and Ate Pinky, whose roles in the presidency of five is unclear, for now. So technically, Noynoy's role will be strictly ceremonial with not much brain activity involved.

(But that's not all, folks! When you elected the 5-in-one President, you also got not just their friends, but also the entire Cojuangco-Aquino Clan! That's right! The Kamag-Anak Inc. of yesteryears has evolved into a hybrid group more aptly called Kamag-Anak and Friends, Inc. Look at what you're getting -- Peping Cojuangco, Jim Paredes, Boy Abunda, Ogie Alcasid, Dingdong Dantes... and the list goes on and on!)

It seems clear that the Aquino siblings are taking the Office of the President to a whole new level. It is as if the Presidency, much like their claim on EDSA 1, People Power and the Yellow Ribbon are their God-given birthright and that they, as anointed members of the Philippine Holy Family, are allowed by virtue to share in the power vested in the president by the constitution.

The Office of the President has now become a family business, and many are beginning to realize what the next six years will be like, and it ain't good.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

I really cannot understand the insistence of the incoming administration in appointing celebrities for the Tourism Department. First it was Boy Abunda, now it's Jim Paredes. I cannot help but think that this is some sort of payback for their support for Noynoy during the campaign period. There are a lot of more deserving career officials who have risen from the ranks in the Tourism Department.

Instead of just giving this juicy post as a sort of thank you to his loyal followers, Noynoy should instead review the performance of career officials in the Tourism Department and appoint from within. These career officials know the ins and outs of the government department and would serve the department best. The post of Department Secretary is not some juicy steak that can be handed out to favored friends as gifts.

Many people already find these type of appointments by the incoming chief executive a big turn off and far from the 'daang matuwid' he has been bragging about during the past presidential campaign.

Friday, June 18, 2010

Fetching the outgoing President by the President-Elect is a long standing Philippine presidential inaugural tradition dating back to the time of Os-Rox (Osmena-Roxas). It symbolizes continuity of government and shows camaraderie between the outgoing and incoming President. It is short of saying to the world "Walang personalan, trabaho lang". It shows the Filipino people and the world that there is unity in governance.

Imagine this writer's surprise when i read in www.gmanews.tv that P-Noy is anxious about the traditional ride with outgoing President Arroyo. In the news report, Noynoy said "To be honest, I'm wondering whether I should open the door for her as a sign of respect. It might turn out that I'm violating protocol. There's also been discussion about whether I should fetch her." As i finished reading the line, it made me think that Noynoy might try and wriggle his way out of this tradition as well. (Remember that he tried to wriggle his way out of holding his inauguration and oathtaking at the Quirino Grandstand, only to backtrack and say he'll do what tradition dictates). I wasn't surprised when he added that he cannot remember if Cory practiced the tradition with FVR.

I now see that P-Noy has trouble with traditions. I cannot believe that a grown man is afraid of spending a few minutes inside a car with the outgoing president and according her some amount (or at least some semblance) of respect. Santa Maria! Even opening the door for the outgoing president seems to be a task too heavy for P-Noy. I ask you, why would opening the door for a lady be too much of a task, if one were a gentleman? But then again, P-Noy is not a gentleman. His stand on President Gloria show the world what kind of man he is.

If he is anxious with his car ride with PGMA, then it wouldn't surprise me now if he faints upon meeting Obama. Meeting the most powerful man in the world would be too daunting for P-Noy, i think, that the ride with Gloria would seem like child's play. I suddenly remembered the inauguration and oathtaking of Obama. Although he and Bush were from different parties and Obama was critical of the Bush Administration, every ounce of respect was accorded Bush by the incoming President. In his speech he even thanked outgoing president Bush. That is statemanship.

Sadly, I cannot say the same thing about P-Noy, who, instead of following tradition chooses to try and do it his way, instead of being magnanimous in his victory he chose to be a gloating ass, and instead of healing the wounds caused by political rifts, he has instead chosen to divide this nation.

Kris Aquino is obviously a glutton for punishment. It seems she is not content with all the flak she is getting for involving herself with his brother P-Noy's affairs and has decided to involve herself once more, this time with the race for the Senate Presidency (see above link). I'm sure that later this morning, the blogsphere will be abuzz with blogs about this juicy tidbit.

Kris is already in too much hot water with bloggers for her less than tactful role in "helping" her brother appoint "loyal supporters" to juicy positions in government. She has gotten too many criticisms for suggesting that her brother P-Noy appoint her BFF Boy Abunda as Tourism Secretary. She and Noy defended the planned appointment, saying Boy was more than qualified for the job. But at least several opinion makers and dozens of bloggers have counter-argued that there are others far more qualified than Boy. Luckily for Kris, the issue did not grow into a brouhaha following her BFF's decision to decline the offer. Then there is her offer to Mother Lily to head Optical Media Board, Dingdong Dantes to the National Youth Commission,and God knows who else.

It will be remembered that Kris also got herself (i mean her mouth got her) into a heap of trouble when she said in one of her many TV interviews during the campaign period that she would leave the country if Noynoy is elected (there is the "if" argument by Krizombies: they claim she said she'll leave IF she becomes a problem for Noy). Many counter that she has been a problem not just of Noy but of her mother and other siblings long before Noy ran for office, so the "if" argument, they claim, is moot and academic. But i digress. This statement led to the creation of a Facebook Page called "Kris Aquino's Despedida" or simply known as KAD. Since it was created, over 28,000 people want Kris to keep her word and leave the Country.

You think she'd learn, but no. In an article in philstar.com, it seems that Kris is again in meddle mode. If sources of Philstar.com are to be believed, Kris herself called up some senators to back Pangilinan's bid for the Senate Presidency. Now I don't know where Kris derives her authority from, but i hope it isn't from his brother. I mean, if she does have the go-ahead of P-Noy, it is a clear violation of the ineendence of a co-equal branch of government. The reason the Executive Department is prevented from meddling into its co-equal branhes of government is simple: check and balance. If the executive has control of the legislative and judicial branches, there is no check and balance. But more importantly, a presidential sister has no right to meddle in political affairs, much less choose who to appoint or put into which department or position.

I pray i am wrong, but if this is a trend we are seeing, we can expect more of Kris' meddling into his brother's affairs in the future. As of now, everyone is keeping a guarded eye on the Presidential Sister and waiting for the the shoe to drop.

On September 27, 1995 , BRP BACOLOD CITY , or LC550, a Philippine Navy ship, was on it’s way from Sangley, Cavite to the Philippines Navy Headquarters ( HPN) at Roxas Boulevard , Manila.

With a ship complement of 8 Officers and 42 Enlisted men, LC550 was considered to be the Flag Ship of the Philippine Navy. As the ship was about to dock at the HPN Pier at around 8:10 A.M., one of the ship’s key officers, ENS PHILLIP A PESTANO, PN, their Deck

and Cargo Officer, was not at his designated station.

His fellow officer, Ens Joselito Colico ( Mess Officer) was tasked by the ship’s EX-O Lt Ruben Roque, to call on Ens Pestaño. There was no answer. With the use of a master key, Ens Colico opened the door of the cabin. There, he found Ens Pestaño, lying motionless, with his body perpendicular to the bed, both his feet on the ground, and both arms outstretched. 24 inches away from his body, located between his two feet was a .45 caliber gun. On the table was a torn lined paper, previously folded, and what appeared to be suicide note.

At 9:43 A.M., police investigators from the WPD, led by SPO Dennis Javier, arrived at the scene to conduct its investigation. They reported a case of suicide.

This website invites you to get to know Phillip and his tragic fate. It will walk you through the crime scene, how the different agencies of the Philippine government rendered their findings and reported the case as suicide; how local and international experts concluded that it was in fact, murder.

It will show you how, in 1997, the Philippine Senate deliberated, and thru the pro bono legal representation of then Ex Senator, Senator Aquilino Pimentel (re-elected anew in 2002 ), concluded that it was indeed murder.

It directed the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) to conduct a deeper investigation on Ens Pestaño’s murder case.And finally, it will show you that the Office of the Ombudsman, thru the Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ), despite conclusive findings that Ens Phillip Pestaño’s death was a murder case, resolved it closed and terminated in 2000, asserting that “the conduct of further investigation in order to find out the identity of the perpetrator and his accomplices, if any, will only be a waste of time considering that the physical evidence has already been tampered with not to mention the lapse of time.”

To date, one can find in the annals and official records of the Philippine Navy, that one Ens. Phillip Andrew A. Pestaño, SN 0-11193, committed suicide on September 27,1995.

We know it was not a suicide. You know it was not a suicide.

We invite you to look at the facts of the case. Revisit the crime scene. Recount the events.

Then, let us speak up, and break the culture of silence.

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It has been all of 15 years and the family of Phillip Pestano is eager for justice to be meted out to the people responsible for his death. Numerous investigations have been done, including a Senate investigation led by then Senator Aquilino Pimentel, to no avail.

It is not just the issue of finding out who are the people behind the brutal killing and brining them to the light of justice, , but it is also an issue of corruption in the Philippine Navy. It is the belief of many that Phillip may have stumbled upon illegal activities by the Philippine Navy. It may be that the PN is using its ships for more than just routine patrols.

I hope that the incoming administration of Noynoy Aquino will finally be able to create a competent commission to investigate and finally put the people behind Phillip's death to justice. It will be a feather on the cap of the incoming Aquino administration if the case of Phillip will finally be given closure, and the family and friends of Phillip Pestano shall not rest until justice is served.

For those who wish to read the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Report, click here.